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Léa Like Leia

Werribee Gorge and Camp

February 17, 2024

What’s on today’s agenda?

Trying my best to drive around/avoid Melbourne, I decided to drive to Werribee Gorge State Park and go for a hike.

First off, I really haven’t changed much when it comes to driving in another country, I still seem to see how far I can take a tank of gas, even if I am nearly on empty… This is even funnier considering I am not 100% familiar with Aus and where I can find the next gas station, unlike back home where I know when I will be passing through a town roughly. I figured I had enough petrol to take my all the way to the Gorge and I would fill up after lol.

By the time I reached the park it was already TOASTY and roughly 11am? I chose the Werribee Gorge loop, it had some incline at the start and I was sweaty as, but it was a good start. Then you go down and start walking along the river and there are multiple spots where you can jump in for a swim. So naturally that is what I did, and it felt amazing as I cooled off! The only thing is that once I was back hiking I got all sweaty again, I almost wish the swimming part was at the end because it was so dang hot outside, like sweat dripping, never even felt like I went for a swim at that point. The rest of the trail had some neat moments walking through the rocks, even a cliff ish side path that you had to hold on to the cable to help you walk around it. To finish it off and get back to the car I had another uphill stint, at this point it was boiling and I was taking my time. I have noticed that a lot of hikes in Australia so far aren’t as much of incline at the start and finish by going down, here you might start by going down and finish by going up. I don’t like that, going down is the easiest part of the hike for me and feels like a good cool down after the exhausting hike up.

The car was a sauna when I got back to it, but I cranked open the windows and drove into the nearby town to fill up, grab an ice cream and make myself a sandwich for lunch. Here I also decided my next step. I didn’t feel like staying in Victoria much longer, and I thought I would aim for a cool camp area behind a tavern that you can camp for free, just order a drink from the tavern, but i also picked a nearby backup in case it was full.

Less than 15-30 min into my drive my engine light popped up on my dash. Oh fuck. I have never in any of my cars had the check engine light pop up. For the Mazda it was the coolant/radiator so I don’t remember which light popped up, but after everything that happened to the Mazda, I wasn’t taking any chances, especially since I was planning to drive for like 4-5 hours. I was still near metro Melbourne, I took the nearest turn off to a 7-11 gas station, stopped and did a google search of nearby mechanics that might still be open, it was 15:00 on a Saturday afternoon. Surely there is something?! Turns out I stopped really darn close to a lot of mechanics, so I rang one up and asked if they could squeeze me in to just quickly take a look. They said yes and I drove over there. I didn’t wait too long, maybe 30 minutes? They took a look and told me that they ran the code machine, and it most likely was just the gas gage sensor was off. I had previously put different types of gas because of what is available (first 95, then 91, then back to 95) my car typically suggests unleaded 95 or better, but in Grampiens there wasn’t any, and I’ve come to notice that in most small towns you are lucky if you have more than one choice; usually diesel, 91, or 98. The mechanic reset the sensor (but now my traction sensors are off lol) and told me if it pops up again, not to panic and I don’t need to immediately rush like I did this time. That definitely was reassuring. He charged me $88, honestly cheap and less than an hour’s rate. Sure another unnecessary charge like the keys in the car, but one that helped calm me down and put my mind at ease that I should be good to continue driving.

After all that the plans changed for the day, I didn’t feel like driving all the way to that tavern, so I picked another place only 1.5 hours away since it was already nearing 17:00 by the time I left the shop. Along the way I stopped for a few groceries since I was really wanting some mac and cheese, then I found my way there by driving around metro Melbourne and through some country side, to a campground in the bush again. This one also had a pit toilet, which is super helpful when car camping. I had a chill evening of making myself supper, reading my book, and playing a few games on my phone. I kept reminding myself it was the right choice to stop at the mechanic, but for some reason I couldn’t stop thinking about it and the fact I spent more unnecessary money. In this case it’s necessary right? Regardless I do believe I made the right choice, even if it changed the plan for the evening a little, I would much rather be safe than sorry. Would have much rather been near a major city incase I needed to do some work on the car then in the middle of nowhere and getting towed. It all worked out in the end.

Lea StArnault